Mike Priefer Will Not Return as Special Teams Coordinator in 2019 [Jeremy Beam purplePTSD.com]

Priefer accepted the role of special teams coordinator with the Browns instead of sticking with the team that stuck with him

Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted and written by Jeremy Beam on purplePTSD.com. Click Here to read that piece and a ton of other Vikings coverage!

Priefer started his tenure with this franchise in 2011, and has overlooked some great special teams units, with his unit ranking as the third-highest-graded special teams unit since 2013.

However, the rumors that Priefer may return in 2019 had some upset due to his clear lack of ability to work with kickers. Most recently, 5th round pick Daniel Carlson converted only 25% of his field goal tries under Priefer before being cut early in the season. Shortly after, he was picked up by the Oakland Raiders where he converted 94.1% of his field goal tries.

Carlson’s replacement, veteran kicker Dan Bailey, also dropped from the 2nd most accurate kicker of all time to the 5th spot. The two combined for a league low 68.8% of field goals converted this season.

Notably, Priefer has been quoted as saying ‘If a guy needs a mental coach, he needs to go elsewhere.’ when discussing young kickers.

Today, Mike Priefer told NFL Network that he has agreed to become the special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in the upcoming 2019 season.

Joe Johnson started purplePTSD.com back in May of 2015 and has talked Vikings online since the advent of the internet, namely on Reddit's /r/MinnesotaVikings section under the username p_U_c_K. He purchased VikingsTerritory.com before the 2017-18 season, used to write for VikingsJournal.com and is the host of the purpleJOURNAL Podcast, as well.